LAN Rioja Gran Reserva 2016

What it is: a Gran Reserva from Rioja, Spain, 97% Tempranillo, 3% Mazuelo (Carignan), JS gave this a 93. As a Gran Reserva, this wine has met the strict aging requirements of the Rioja DOCa regulatory board – a minimum of 5 years total aging before release, with at least 2 years in oak barrels and 3 years in bottle.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Nose: dark fruits (blackberry, black cherry), tobacco, leather, and vanilla notes from oak aging. hints of spice, balsamic.

Taste: warm full bodied flavor with dark berries, plum, fig, lots of fruit with a juicy initial taste. Some tastes of cocoa. Wine has been aged 9 years and it’s in its “peak” phase so it feels like some of tannins have integrated and it’s more smooth of a finish.

Finish: a little bit of spices and oak but a soft finish not super bitter like what you’d get with a younger wine.

Relative value: picked it up for $24 from a local wine store. This feels like excellent value with it having been aged for 9 years. The taste is more subtle than a Cabernet and I thought it tasted better than the Rioja Alta Vina Alberdi Reversa.